The University of Alicante (UA) is among the institutions that have instituted radio frequency detectors to detect any information transmission, as part of a crackdown on cheaters who use nearly invisible smart devices to effortlessly pass exams. Schools have been compelled to “arm themselves” against the fraudulent use of artificial intelligence (AI) due to student misconduct and the numerous ways in which technological advancements can lead to fraud.
In the province of Alicante, secondary and high school classrooms are already implementing a variety of measures, including ear checks, surveillance cameras, two teachers per classroom, and devices to detect mobile phone signals. “A teacher checks their ears before they enter to see if they are hiding earpieces; Arab girls are checked to see if they are hiding them in their hair or under their veils, especially in high school, where they take the greatest risks.” According to the IES Virgen del Remedio in Alicante, in certain groups where students have been discovered copying, a camera is installed on the digital screen upon the teacher’s request to ensure that they are monitored and do not remove their mobile phones.
They do this because there are already earpieces on the market that are nearly imperceptible, just 3 millimetres in diameter and the size of a lentil. These earpieces are sold for 30 euros on e-commerce platforms as “earpieces that can be used in exams as a replacement for traditional cheat sheets, since they allow for eavesdropping without being detected.”They also include a mini microphone that they claim can hear whispers without any difficulty.
In the context of this revolution, which is now accessible to nearly all students, this centre in Alicante is also conducting exams in the auditorium with the assistance of multiple teachers, in the manner of the Selectividad (university entrance exam). This decision was made in response to the growing number of young individuals who are engaging in plagiarism, which has been facilitated by the accessibility of electronic devices.
Additionally, students are advised to wear a ponytail in their hair to prevent the use of concealed earpieces at the IES Cabo de la Huerta, where their ears are also monitored. “If they conceal the device within their shirt, it is impossible to detect.” Other individuals typically carry two mobile phones. A teacher at the school laments, “They inform us that they keep one phone in their backpack and the other between their legs.”
Additionally, the students’ enhanced cheating strategies, in conjunction with their ingenuity, are compelling educators to “modify the nature of the questions and ensure that they are based on a high level of competency.” He continues, “We are left with no alternative.”
Identify signals
Another instance in which somewhat exceptional measures have been necessary is at the IES Radio Exterior high school, as the nature of deception becomes increasingly undetectable. Some instructors at this school in Alicante have acquired radio frequency detectors to identify powered-up mobile phones. Some students bring two phones to examinations, despite the fact that they are obligated to leave their smartphones on the teacher’s desk. The IES Figueras Pacheco high school in Alicante has also installed these devices, which operate similarly to radio frequency detectors and emit a sound upon detecting a mobile phone that is activated.
Additionally, in their classrooms, two teachers supervise students during examinations, backpacks must be placed in the front of the classroom, and watches are prohibited, as is the case at the IES Mediterránea in Benidorm. This practice is becoming increasingly prevalent in educational institutions, as these devices have the capacity to store information in memory and can be used to obtain the answers to questions without the need to study.
Pockets located on the exterior
Some educators in Elche are also purchasing their own radio frequency detectors to identify switched-on mobile phones during exams, as seen at the IES Carrús high school. Students have also been instructed to enter the classroom with their pockets facing the outside and their shirt and trouser sleeves folded up in order to prevent suspicion of concealed devices. Additionally, they have been obligated to remain in the location that the teacher has designated for the exam.
The ease with which students are passing has prompted other schools, such as the IES Canónigo Manchón in Crevillent, to investigate the use of devices to prevent the transmission of information through mobile phones or other devices during exams. This is due to the legal impossibility of keeping records.
“Detection is becoming more challenging due to the sophistication of the methods.” The center elucidates that the objective is to supervise the student’s interaction with the external world in order to receive data, rather than to impede it.
In the face of this reality that has placed education on high alert and is progressing at a rapid pace, teachers are making every effort to prevent their students from cheating by implementing a variety of measures that ensure they are within the law. However, educational centres continue to face the pending challenge of integrating AI into the classroom in a way that encourages students to use it responsibly, while also allowing them to continue working on critical thinking, writing, and problem-solving.
Indeed, there are professionals who are already advocating for a return to traditional assessment methods, in which exams are prioritised over assignments, in order to prevent the copying and pasting that is occurring among many students.
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